The Leagues of Votann are right here, and with them, GW is making 40K rather less grimdark, and much more arduous sci-fi.
We all know the defining attribute of the Warhammer Universe, is its gothic, grimdark vibe. Maybe not a lot anymore. After virtually 30 years of absence, the long-lost Squats have returned to Warhammer 40,000 in an all new type – the Leagues of Votann. I’ve learn by way of your complete lore portion of the upcoming codex (which is thorough, and great) and am beginning to see a trendline.
GW is slowly however certainly dragging Warhammer 40,000 right into a extra common sci-fi setting. It’s been a very long time coming.
Early Hints
Remember the brand new emblem for ninth Edition? Lots of of us who play don’t actually take note of the advertising aspect of issues, however that’s one emblem that may be a fairly clear break from a long time of darkish brooding imagery for 40K. Sure the double-headed Imperial Aquilla is there however is simply so clear and crisp in comparison with what got here earlier than. I had a sense one thing was up.
“I’m surrounded by idiots!”
Bright Portents
Then we began getting little hints of arduous tech right here and there. We’ve had the arduous tech T’au Empire without end, however little issues like Necromunda introduced again a reimagined House Van Saar with a surprising backstory. Spoiler – they’re arduous tech descendants of unique settlers from Terra, have a completely useful STC, and really perceive what’s up with expertise and the utter degradation of humanity. They simply play dumb when the Mechanicum are round to not appeal to any undue consideration. Then we acquired of us like UR-025, a holdout AI from the Dark Age of Technology. He actually is aware of what’s up tech-wise.
40K moreover has different races who whereas actually not “good guys” aren’t fascist tecnho-ignorant spiritual fanatics. Races just like the Necrons and Eldar just about know the way stuff works.
Enter League of Votann
Now the Leagues of Votann arrive and boy is their backstory fascinating. LORE SPOILERS AHEAD!
It seems the Leagues of Votann are descendants of some unique people who headed out of Terra, or someplace actually near Terra (their AI’s reminiscence banks don’t return fairly that far). They additionally totally perceive how their expertise works. Plus, it’s expertise of a stage greater than the Imperium. They dwell within the Galactic Core, which is just about uninhabitable to virtually each different race. But with their whiz-gang hyper tech, the Leagues of Votann are thriving. They even have quite a few totally fledged AIs – and in reality, have constructed their societies round them.
The codex particularly states they think about the Adeptus Mechanicus ignorant shamans. The Leagues perceive that sadly humanity and the Imperium are so prevalent that contact is unavoidable. So they reduce contact as a lot as potential and keep away from speaking an excessive amount of about their tech stuff. The codex even talks about how they work together often with many different races who perceive expertise and have a typically downward view of their distant Human cousins. They merely dislike the Necrons, and even commerce with the Aeldari and T’au! WHAAT!
Welcome to the Less Grimdark!
So the place does this depart the lore of 40K? Actually, it’s in a extremely fascinating spot. You can now break down the sport into factions which might be sci-fi arduous tech, or ignorant fascist shamans, or someplace in between. It appears to be like form of like this:
Hard Tech:
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- T’au Empire
- Leagues of Votann
- Drukhari
- Necrons
Magic/Funky Technology:
Ignorant Tech Shamans:
- Adeptus Mechanicus
- Knights
- Custodes (controversial, possibly hard-tech and they’re taking part in dumb)
- Adepta Sororitas
- Astra Militarum
- Marines
- Chaos Marines
Oddballs:
40K Become Slightly Less Human-centric
This is a extremely cool place that GW has sleight of handed the Warhammer 40K universe into. What we have now here’s a massive (in reality the most important) a part of the Warhammer 40K universe continues to be certainly the Grimdark. It’s the Human half. But it’s surrounded by virtually each different faction within the recreation that just about is aware of whats up, and has to take care of the ignorant however limitless plenty of the Imperium always making an attempt to kill them. Or else they’ve such a unique idea of expertise that no comparisons apply. Think Daemons or Tyranids for instance.
It’s a really cool increasing universe that it’s one that basically does supply one thing for all the pieces, from lovers of the basic Grimdark, to these on the lookout for a extra conventional sci-fi vibe. If something, I believe the Leagues of Votann have opened up the idea of a set of high-tech factions that truly are involved with one another and endure the Imperium. It’s an interesting revelation that form of turns 40K on its head.
We all know 40K has no good guys, however possibly with the return of the Squats, it’s the Imperium who’re REALLY the baddies?
Dad, Gamer, Publisher, Pilot, Texan. All video games on a regular basis since junior-high.
I began BoLS Interactive in 2006. I’m a lifelong tabletop & RPG gaming fanatic, and web writer working to entertain and inform my readers each day.
I’ve been taking part in RPGs and Tabletop Games for the reason that Nineteen Seventies. I’m been taking part in and masking Warhammer and Warhammer 40K for over 35 years.
